Bird Flu Outbreak Prompts Culling of 12,000 chickens in northern ireland
BELFAST – A new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed at a Northern Ireland farm, leading to the planned culling of 12,000 chickens. Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir announced Monday that initial results indicated the presence of the virus, triggering the implementation of disease control measures as a “precautionary measure.” This latest incident follows similar culls earlier in the year, raising concerns within the poultry industry.
The outbreak is “devastating” for the affected farmer, whose livelihood is now at risk, according to Department of Agriculture, Surroundings and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Chief Veterinary Officer Robert McKeown. “That is his livelihood gone,” McKeown told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster on Tuesday. The department’s staff will humanely cull the chickens, followed by a thorough cleansing and disinfection of the premises before restocking can occur - a process McKeown described as “fairly prolonged.”
Bird flu is a important stressor for the entire poultry sector, impacting not only farmers but also DAERA staff and causing substantial economic losses. McKeown emphasized the availability of support for affected farmers, including mental health organizations.”whenever department staff are carrying out procedures on the farm, we do it in as a sensitive way as possible, as we do realize this is devastating for the farmers involved as well,” he said.
This latest outbreak comes after approximately 20,000 chickens were culled near Omagh in County Tyrone last month following a suspected case, and almost 16,000 birds were culled at a site near Pomeroy earlier this year due to similar concerns. Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) are being established to limit the potential spread of the disease.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has reiterated that avian influenza primarily affects birds and poses a very low risk to public health. However, the recurring outbreaks highlight the ongoing vulnerability of the poultry industry and the importance of stringent biosecurity measures.
